next story

Arianna Huffington Says Slowing Down Is Key to Success

In her new book Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder, media mogul, mother of two, and 2011 Glamour Women of the Year Honoree Arianna Huffington takes a step back and reexamines not just the way we work but the way we live. Her wake-up call was in April 2007, when she opened her eyes to find herself bleeding after collapsing from exhaustion at her desk (and hitting her cheekbone on the way down). Last night, at her book launch party at the Manhattan home of Maureen White, a senior adviser to the State Department, and her husband, investor and former U.S. Treasury auto-industry adviser Steve Rattner, Huffington recalled her aha moment: "Suddenly I started asking myself these questions...that basically came down to: What is a good life?"

Huffington strives to answer that question and gives research-backed advice on how to refocus on the right things, in the right way, inThrive. After looking around the room last night at the incredible circle of people Huffington has surrounded herself with, it was hard not feel like we really should take her wisdom to heart. In addition to hosts White, Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC's Morning Joe, and Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive, attendees included some of the most high-profile people in media, fashion, and entertainment. At one point, it occurred to me that I was within arm's length of Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Tina Brown—and that's just to name a few Huffington pals. (Oh, hello, Harvey Weinstein. How are you, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, and Vera Wang?) The busy A-listers were there to celebrate Huffington's message, which can be boiled down to this: It's OK to sleep more and stress less. It's OK to turn off your phone, go for a walk, to recharge. It's OK—more than OK—to be driven by giving back and doing good. In fact, you'll be all the better for it.

"If we look at the business world today, we see two very different things," said Huffington in a Q&A before the event. "First, we see a lot of burnout: a business culture obsessed with quarterly earnings and short-term profits. But we also see an increasing recognition of the effects of workplace stress on the well-being of employees—and on a company's bottom line. More and more companies are recognizing what's good for us as individuals is also good for business." She practices what she preaches: Huffington Post staffers are encouraged to get some shut-eye in the company's nap rooms, and there's space for yoga and meditation to keep employees mentally centered.

Guests took home copies of Thrive, which were on display at the event.

"I love Arianna's message because I think it gives us as women permission to relax a little bit," said Leive, who went on a "digital detox" with Huffington and Brzezinski in January and, a few years ago, took on a challenge to get more sleep. "There's a lot of pressure out there on women to have the perfect relationship, perfect body, and lean in to the perfect job...her book is a reminder of the simple fact that it's also important to be relaxed and happy. And that by the way, the crazy round-the-clock hours didn't work all that well for most men (who spent generations never seeing their children) and that as women, maybe we can find another, more humane way. And I say that as a workaholic!"

Katie Couric, John Molner, and Barbara Walters

When I asked Barbara Walters if she wishes this advice had been available to women 20 years ago and if women would have been open to it, she had this to say: "I have known Arianna since she first moved to the U.S. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. She's always had wisdom. She's always been wise for her age. Her views on what it is to be successful—yes, they're something a lot of women would have listened to years ago." I guess better late than never, right?

Diane Sawyer and Arianna Huffington

Speaking about the message behind Thrive and why it matters so much now, Diane Sawyer said, "We all still believe in the simple idea that if we can change our day, we can change our lives. [Huffington] puts the joy back in, and that's everything."

One of the highlights from the evening was when the hosts toasted Huffington, each sharing what he or she learned from her. Brzezinski said Huffington taught her that you can still be a good friend, no matter where your career takes you. "I call [Huffington] a lot, and she picks up on the first ring and says, 'I'm in Rio. Baby, what is it?'" said Brzezinki, who had the room laughing with her impression of Huffington. "[She taught me] it's possible to be an incredible success in business and still be a friend before anything."

Huffington hopes her message resonates, especially with women. "We don't have to pretend we are superwomen," she said, noting that it's OK to be vulnerable. So what would she have told herself, had she known this wisdom all along? "I would have told myself that actually taking care of yourself is a performance-enhancing drug," Huffington told me. "When you have less stress, less worry, and less anxiety, you have more control over your health and your relationships."

I couldn't help but notice how the apartment may have been grand, but the mood was light. Other than the quick tweet or group photo, people weren't on their phones—they were enjoying the moment. "Women do everything, and our multitasking brains are on overdrive," said Brzezinski. "I've spent the past 10 years being gutted. It's time to stop and enjoy."

If Arianna Huffington and other moguls can tune out the stress, maybe there's hope for the rest of us! How do you recharge when you need to?